I'm

I'm going to be able to be.

The Hello and welcome to politics, Theory Other.

My name is Alex Doherty and my guest today is Kevin Gray.

In December of last year, the then South Korean president, Yon Suk Yol,

of the right-wing People Power Party, attempted to impose martial law on the country in what was

described as a self-coup, an event unprecedented in South Korean history since the country's

transitioned to multi-party democracy in the late 1980s.

In today's conversation, I spoke with Kevin about his recent article in the new left review on the Korean Far Right.

We chatted about the background to the attempted coup and the history of the Korean

far-right and broader conservative currents.

We talked about the far-right's roots in the Japanese occupation of Korea and the role of the United States in supporting those conservative elements that collaborated in Japanese rule.

And we discussed the efforts of modern conservatives to rehabilitate the image of South Korea's military dictators, who ruled the country from the end of World War II until the democratic transition.

Finally, we talked about how the far right has developed a capacity for large-scale militant street

protest and why it is that young Korean men are increasingly supportive of the far right.

If you find today's interview useful, then please consider becoming a £5 patron of the podcast.

The show depends entirely upon listener support, and as well as keeping PTO going, you'll also get access to bonus content, such as the recent listener questions episodes with Richard Seymour.

You can support the show in pounds or whatever your local currency happens to be, and you can pledge any amount you choose.

Go to patreon.com forward slash poll theory other to sign up.

Kevin Gray is a professor in international relations at the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex.

He's the author of Korean Workers and Nealiberal Globalisation,

Labour and Development in East Asia, Social Forces and Passive Revolution,

...